Friday, June 8, 2012

Des
Moines, Iowa– June 8 – Iowa Pride Network Leadership Team member Liz Sederquist
testified today at Senator Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) field hearing of the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which he chairs, at Des Moines East High School. The
hearing explored the growing national concern over bullying in schools.

Sederquist
is currently a student at Des Moines Area Community College, after dropping out
of Gilbert High School due to pervasive bullying and harassment.

In
her testimony, Sederquist shared that after being “outed” as a lesbian at
school; students vandalized her car and would often verbally harass her. Staff
rarely intervened.

“I developed anxiety, stomach
issues, and depression. I just didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to go
and have faculty not pay attention to me, and no one handling the bullying
problem.”

Sederquist made clear that there are
steps schools can take to make life better for students; pointing to on-going trainings
for teachers, ensuring schools follow Iowa’s Safe Schools Law and encouraging the
formation of student clubs called gay-straight alliances.

“Students shouldn’t have to worry
about being judged on how they present their gender or sexual orientation,”
said Sederquist, adding that, “I hope through this testimony that schools will
realize that not providing a safe and supportive environment does affect
students and their ability to learn.”

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About Iowa Pride Network
Iowa Pride Network empowers students to fight bullying, homophobia, transphobia
and hate in high schools and colleges by supporting gay-straight alliance (GSA)
clubs and providing leadership opportunities and organizing projects centered
on social justice.